KU, Kaimosi TTC performances stand out at Kenya National Music Festival

Kenyatta University hit all the right notes at the 97th Kenya National Music Festival in Meru County, scooping first place in the Pop Gospel Music category.

Masinde Muliro University and the University of Nairobi came in second and third, respectively. Other contenders included Kabarak, Embu and Egerton universities.

In the same category for technical colleges, Sigalagala National Polytechnic took the top spot, with Kitale National Polytechnic and East Africa School of Aviation hot on their heels. Kabete National Polytechnic rounded off the list.

Daystar University, meanwhile, continued its winning streak across instrumental, elocution and choral categories, impressing with woodwind performances and public speaking in French, German and Arabic.

KU also clinched the Equity Bank Special Composition award with Equity Tumaini Letu by Ouma Benjah. Standout soloists included Paul Manana, Sally Awuor and Gloria Agwata, under the direction of Faith Kariru, a master’s student in KU’s music department.

The KU Ladies Choir also shone with Amba, a Luhya folk piece arranged by Justus Lisiola— an Administration Police officer based in Embakasi—complete with captivating solos from Angela Kibera, Elizabeth Akinyi and Immaculate Amboye.

Friends School Tigoi took first place as it wowed the crowd with an Isukuti dance from the Isukha and Idakho communities in Western Kenya under the Luhya/Luo dance category. Navakholo Secondary impressed with the Kamaveka dance and took second place.

Kabete National Polytechnic had audiences cheering with Mwavuli Wetu and the satirical set piece Ing’ombe. Mathenge Technical and Vocational College caught the audience’s attention and won with their choral verse Githoni Kia Stareh. Scripted by James Muruga, directed by Ann Mukundi and produced by Catherine Gikonyo, the poem critiques moral decline among youth, telling the story of Gîthoni, a once-innocent girl who succumbs to social media and promiscuity.

In the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service-sponsored choral verse category, Ngara Girls presented Fingers on My Hand, finishing as runners-up to Precious Blood Riruta from Nairobi.

Karen C Girls High School won the Zilizopendwa category, with Ngenia Boys and Moi Girls Nairobi in second and third place.

Kaimosi Teachers Training College was another crowd favourite, bagging a Sh100,000 Equity award and a place at the Gala Concert. They also won other music and elocution categories, including the Kenya Revenue Authority trophy with their piece Tulipe Ushuru Tujitegemee. The piece urges Kenyans to pay taxes for improved services.

Already drama champions from April’s festival in Nakuru, they’ll soon represent Kenya at the East Africa Music, Dance, and Drama Concert in Kampala.